Remember the jacked-up Nissan Ariya EV that was set to take on an expedition from the North Pole to the South Pole? Well, that husband-and-wife team successfully completed the 30,000 km journey on December 19, 2023, marking an end to the 10-month journey.
The husband-and-wife team are Chris and Julie Ramsey and their expedition began from the frozen Arctic Sea at the 1823 Magnetic North Pole. They traversed varied terrains and conditions of North, Central, and South America to reach the South Pole.
What makes the journey interesting is the fact that the couple completed it with a “factory-standard” EV. Yes, the Ariya has been modified to fit bigger all-terrain tyres and specialists Arctic Tools, but the powertrain, all-wheel drive system, and battery system are all standard, which makes this feat a remarkable one.
If you’re unfamiliar with what the Nissan Ariya is, it is a fully-electric car from Nissan which is not yet made available for the Malaysian market. However, a registered unit has been seen roaming our Malaysian roads.
In its all-wheel drive large battery configuration, the Nissan Ariya houses an 87-kWh battery pack that provides just under 600 km of range (WLTP). The dual-motor setup provides 394 hp and 600 Nm. With fast charging, the Nissan Ariya takes 30 minutes to regain 400 km of range.
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Chris Ramsey commented, “I can’t believe we’re at the South Pole. After so many years of planning, it doesn’t feel real. I’ve always had full confidence in the amazing capabilities of electric vehicles, and I knew our Nissan Ariya would tackle everything thrown at it. But it’s been far tougher than I anticipated. I’m proud that Pole to Pole has reached millions of people in parts of the world and enthused them about embracing EV in their day-to-day lives.”
Julie Ramsey added, ”This has been an incredible journey, with the people we’ve met, the friends we’ve made and the support we’ve received. Pole to Pole started out as just Chris and I, but the expedition team is now made of up to thousands of kind, forward-thinking people. These supporters and contributors want to make a difference and share the excitement of electric driving.”
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Nissan Global Marketing, Brand and Merchandizing Corporate Vice President, Allyson Witherspoon said, ”On behalf of everyone at Nissan, congratulations on completing Pole to Pole. We all admire your daring spirit and passion for pushing the boundaries of electric adventure. It has been an extraordinary journey to follow and a point of pride for us at Nissan. It has shown how Nissan’s innovative technology continues to deliver excitement, whether on a trip to the office or to the Antarctic!”
GALLERY
